Roz Purcell

Rozanna "Roz" Purcell is an Irish beauty pageant titleholder, model, writer, radio host, and charity advocate who was born on September 3, 1990. She first attained widespread fame after winning the Miss Universe Ireland contest in 2010, having previously competed in the 2009 edition of the national competition. Her title enabled her to represent Ireland on the global stage at the Miss Universe 2010 event.

Following her performance at Miss Universe 2010, Purcell attracted interest from international modeling agencies, receiving a contract offer from Trump Model Management as well as opportunities in Colombia and Mexico. In 2010, she was invited to sit on the judging panel for the Miss Venezuela pageant. She eventually returned to Ireland to sign with the agency established by her mentor, Andrea Roche, and later served as a judge for Miss Universe Ireland 2012. Throughout her modeling career, she has been a prominent face and representative for Newbridge Silverware.

In addition to modeling, Purcell developed a career in culinary arts and outdoor writing. She established a personal food blog, naturalbornfeeder.com, in October 2013, which led to the release of her debut cookbook, Natural Born Feeder, in January 2016. An enthusiastic trekker who has discussed overcoming extreme conditions including temperatures of minus 25 degrees Celsius on Mount Kilimanjaro, she later authored outdoor recreation guidebooks.

Her guide to regional trekking, The Hike Life: My 50 Favourite Hikes in Ireland, was published in 2023 and earned the title of Lifestyle Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards. She published a second volume, titled The Hike Life: 50 More to Explore, in 2024, which was shortlisted for an Irish Book Award.

Purcell's television and radio presence has spanned numerous projects over the years. She won TV3's Come Dine With Me in 2012 and managed the Newtown Cashel team from Longford on RTÉ's Celebrity Bainisteoir that same year. She appeared as a guest celebrity chef on TV3's The Restaurant in February 2015. In 2021, she joined talent manager Louis Walsh and Michelle Visage as a judge on the recycled fashion competition Junk Kouture. Since February 2025, she has co-hosted the breakfast radio program on 2FM alongside Carl Mullan and Aisling Bonner.

Purcell has also contributed to philanthropic causes, helping raise funds and public interest for the Irish Cancer Society through its Get Active For 2015 campaign. In her personal life, she began a relationship with Zach Desmond in 2016, and the couple were married in March 2026 during a ceremony held at Dublin City Hall.